Replaceable steel lockbar inserts. Shouldnt you get an extra?

PURPLEDC

PURPLEDC

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Apr 4, 2007
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This is something that perplexes me. These days the "replaceable" steel lockbar insert seems to be a feature that is catching on with various makers and manufacturers. Do you think manufacturers should include a single extra insert with the knife? I know what some of you are thinking. Every single part of the knife is technically replaceable yet you don't get extras to assemble a new knife do you? No and that is a good point. But my worry about this feature is of availability later on down the road. Screws, pocket clips and such tend to be able to be sourced after the fact if years down the road you strip a screw. And many times these parts are interchangeable between models so if your X knife breaks the same screw is now used in Y knife and your covered. Steel lockbar inserts are proprietary to the knife you buy and if years down the road the knife is no longer made parts will be nearly impossible to source. And the designs of many of these inserts are NOT basic and could be costly to have custom made. Now Im not even saying they should be included in the price, but I do feel they should be available for sale aftermarket so you can have a back up. What do you all think?
 
Educate me.......are ya really gonna wear out the steel insert in a lifetime of use?
 
It takes years for a brake pad on your standard disc brake to wear out. those things are stopping pieces of metal that spin out thousands of RPM, and weigh in excess of a few tons. Knives locks on the other hand, will move maybe a few mm with every opening and closing and stop something that is only a few oz. I'm with jbmonkey, if you're wearing out a steel insert there is either something wrong with the insert or you are just flicking your knife open and closed 24/7.

And I think some companies would prefer you send in the knife to get a steel insert replaced because they do not encourage people taking apart their knives.
 
The steel insert isn't for replacability. It's to minimise wear. steel on steel lasts longer than steel on titanium.
 
I have used a knife to the point where I wore out the lock, and it would have been nice to have just replaced the end of the lockbar. Certain knives, Lionsteel and Dozier come to mind, state clearly that the lockbar is replaceable if you wear it out. I agree with the OP that if a knife is designed with a replaceable lockbar insert they should include one with the knife.
 
LX_Emergency said:
The steel insert isn't for replacability. It's to minimise wear. steel on steel lasts longer than steel on titanium.
Click to expand...

Yup. This. The whole "replaceable" line came from marketing folks. Not the engineering and warranty department folks. ;)
 
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